This post was going to be titled, My friend has lost her mind. But then I got all mushy about it (I'll post my mushy stuff at the end of the blog, if you're interested). Here's how it started:

Text message to my sister:
Adryon is running a 26 mile marathon.

Text message from my sister:
That's insane.

Text message to my sister:
I know, I can barely do the 6 mile walk I do every year.

Here's how it really started:

Adryon MEANT to send out this message to all her friends:
I'm running a half marathon for the leukemia/lymphoma society!

Adryon ACTUALLY sent out this message:
I'm running a marathon for the leukemia/lymphoma society!

What I love about, and have in common with, Adryon is that since she said it, she HAS TO DO IT. (This is why I am MUCH more careful about what I say!)

Adryon is already a really smart, really kind person. She works with disabled youth. She's been injured in the course of her job, and she continues to do it. Kids love her. Pets love her. I love her. She's a really kind human.

Adryon needs to make some changes in her current situation. She's been having boyfriend trouble, mortgage trouble, family illness trouble, you name it. So what does she choose as a way to help change her life? Team in Training. She chooses to help someone else as a way to help herself. I LOVE THAT. She also recently finally cut her hair and donated it to Locks of Love. I LOVE THAT!

I will admit this. Adryon is 26, I am 40. Generally when I hang out with Adryon & her friends it takes me 2 days to recover. These days, Adryon is in bed by 9:30. She has met people who are running because their brother/son/grandson has died. She is standing up in protest and support. I LOVE THAT. She is at the gym every day, and running, running, running.

If you have the means and the intention, please help Adryon to stand up and RUN for this cause. She has made me feel better from her efforts. She is standing up for all of us, and all people who suffer. She needed to change her life, and she chose HELPING OTHERS as a way to do that. I have to say, I really LOVE THAT.

Just because her baby dog, Napoleon, is flippin cute, I'm adding his photo here. He has been WAY more expensive than he should've been. Personality galore.

Anyway, here's my mushy Adryon story about why I will always, always love her:

I'm 14 years older than Adryon. When I was in my late teens this story came my way. My grandpa, who was my favorite person in the world until I had my daughter (I'm convinced he waited until I had someone to take that spot before he passed away, just so I could handle it), was a handyman after he retired. He built a deck for Adryon's parents. Adryon was a little toddler and said, "Al, can you come to my birthday party?"

Many, many years later as we're heading to a NYE party, she mentions this to me. I said, "You're that girl?! I LOVE YOU for that!" That was it, we've been fast friends ever since. She is/was smart enough to love my grandpa. And to do this (insane) marathon to help those less fortunate than herself. Thank you Adryon!